Derby day clash was ‘one-sided’

Aug 12 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE season got underway on Saturday with a full programme of games being played in the ACA Sports and DJ Laing League Cup competitions.

Scone Thistle and Kinnoull met at the RDM ground in section two of the ACA Sports Cup.

This was an entertaining derby encounter which had only been in operation for six minutes when Kinnoull took the lead with a goal from Jon Kelly who managed to steer the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle.

The next chance in the game came Thistle’s way when a cross from their right wing found Darren Gray unmarked in the penalty box.

His header looked to be heading into the back of the net until Kinnoull keeper Duncan Bruce managed somehow to get a hand to the ball and push it over the bar.

From the resultant corner Thistle centre half Dave Routledge connected with the ball only to see his header go past the post.

There was an unfortunate incident on the half hour mark with a clash of heads which resulted in Scone’s Scott McManus having to be taken off.

He was replaced by Chris Hamilton.

Scott was taken to PRI where he was detained for observation.

He was allowed home on Sunday.

There was no further scoring in this half which ended with Kinnoull still ahead by 1–0.

Thistle came out after the break with all guns blazing and they had Kinnoull pushed back on the defensive.

For a spell they created chances but they failed to turn any of them into goals.

Thistle were punished to the full for this failure when Kinnoull, who had forced their way back into the game, increased their lead to 2–0.

A long crossfield pass from Martin Mailer found Jamie McKenzie who rode a last ditch tackle from a defender and went on to beat keeper Steve McKinnie with a well struck shot from around 15 yards.

The Thistle heads didn’t go down after this further setback and they retaliated immediately and within a matter of minutes they reduced the leeway when their striker was tripped in the penalty box and the resultant spot kick was dispatched into the back of the Kinnoull net by Chris Hamilton.

The Thistle euphoria didn’t last long as five minutes later Kinnoull restored their two goal lead with a top class goal from Steve McManus.

Steve volleyed the ball into the postage stamp corner of the net with a cracking volley from just inside the penalty box.

In 82 minutes Steve increased the Kinnoull lead to 4–1 with an almost carbon copy of his previous goal, only this time it flew into the back of the net low down at the far post.

Thistle were awarded their second penalty when Callum McKinlay was tripped in the box.

Chris Hamilton did the business once again with the spot kick which made the final scoreline on the da 4–2 in Kinnoull’s favour.

Kinnoull boss Scott Brown said in his after match comments: “Thistle proved to be very difficult opponents and the final result flattered us.”

Bankfoot and Luncarty also met in section two and the first half of this derby clash at Coronation Park ended goalless.

Bankies almost went ahead in the fifth minute when a well hit shot from Danny Dobbie looked to be netbound but it got a slight deflection and sneaked past the post.

The next goalmouth incident of any note saw the Bleachers denied a goal after 16 minutes by a brilliant save from the Bankies keeper Darren McGarry.

The Bleachers had been awarded a free kick which was taken by Andy Morrison and hit into the heart of the Bankies goalmouth.

It took a wicked bounce and looked as if it would land in the back of the net until McGarry got his fingertips to it and managed to touch it over the bar.

The Bleachers had a chance to go ahead in 28 minutes when Andy Morrison was put through but the striker blasted the ball well wide of the post from the edge of the penalty box.

A couple of minutes before the break it was Bankies turn to fail to put a good chance away.

Barry Ward managed to get a cross in when he held off the attentions of a defender.

The ball ran along the edge of the six yard box and Alan Stewart made a great effort to connect with it but failed to do so by a matter of inches.

Bankies were forced into withdrawing their goalkeeper Darren McGarry at the interval.

Darren had a cut in a foot which required stitches. He was replaced by sub keeper Craig Houston.

The second half went badly wrong for the Bankies as they fell behind to a goal scored by Andy Morrison in the 59th minute. Bankies response to this setback was immediate. They swept into the attack and were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box.

Gavin Mackie took the kick which he struck well but hooked the ball past the post.

Then came a five minute nightmare scenario for the Bankies as they conceded goals in the 69th and 74th minutes, both own goals which were hit past their keeper by one of his defenders as he attempted to make clearances.

Those goals put the Bleachers 3–1 ahead and that’s how the game ended.

Blairgowrie were at home to Lochee Harp in section three of the DJ Laing League Cup.

Blair went on to win this game by 2–0 and it was a scoreline that didn’t flatter them.

The score sheet was still blank when an incident occurred in the 40th minute that resulted in a player from each side being red carded.

Two minutes later, Blair took the lead when a shot from Darren Neave from the edge of the penalty box was well saved by the Harp keeper.

But he then proceeded to let the ball slip from his grasp and it ran loose and was snapped up by Blair’s trialist striker who played it to Paul Ireland who was left to knock the ball into the back of the net to give his team a 1–0 interval lead.

Blair continued to have the lions share of the attacking play in the second half.

In the 83rd minute they got the goal that finally clinched the points for them.

A long pass from Ryan Menzies to Andy Murray unmarked in the penalty box.

The keeper came off his line to try and thwart Andy but he coolly put the ball through the keepers legs to make it 2–0 and that’s how the game ended.

Coupar Angus were away to the super league champions Lochee United and they turned in a sterling performance.

Coupar held their own for the best part of the first half which looked as if it would end without a goal being scored.

Then with a couple of minutes remaining Lochee United’s Philip Hagen picked up the ball and while he was still about 30 yards from the Coupar goal he let fly and the ball flew into the top corner of the net for a great goal which proved to be the winner.

Coupar had a couple of chances in the second half to get back on level terms.

They both fell to Ian Petrie but he failed to put them away.

Coupar co-boss Derek Grier, while he did say that there was no doubt Lochee United deserved their win, he was very pleased with his teams performance.

Derek and co-boss Dave Martin have assembled practically a new squad.

They have made a number of signings over the course of last week and they will announce them within the next few days.

The league cup games continue with another highly attractive programme on Wednesday night.

The section two games have Jeanfield Swifts, who had a bye on Saturday, making their debut.

They are away to Luncarty who will be cock a hoop after collecting three points at Bankfoot.

Kinnoull and Bankfoot clash at Tulloch Park and the premier league side will go into this game as the favourites to finish with the points.

However, Bankies will be striving to turn their fortunes around by getting a favourable results.

Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus have difficult away games in section three of the DJ Laing League Cup. Blair are guests of Lochee United while Coupar meet Downfield.